Swindon Supermarine secured a 2-1 victory over Swindon Town’s Under-18s in a pre-season friendly at the Imagine Cruising Stadium, with Joe Shepherd netting twice for the hosts. The Southern League side dominated for long stretches, though Town’s youngsters showed promise in a spirited second-half comeback.
How did Swindon Supermarine take the lead?
Shepherd opened the scoring in just six minutes, calmly slotting home from 15 metres after a half-cleared free kick. He doubled Marine’s advantage after 21 minutes, intercepting goalkeeper Charlie Summers’ pass and rolling the ball into an empty net. Despite Town’s determined defending, Marine continued to push, with Summers making key saves to keep the deficit at two.
How did Swindon Town’s U18s respond?
After falling two goals behind, Town’s youngsters grew into the game. Briel Da Costa’s pace troubled Marine’s defence, while Teddy Moulder impressed in central defence. The hosts nearly extended their lead, but Summers denied Jordan Annear and a goalmouth scramble before the break. After halftime, Marine hit the crossbar through Zach Rugman, while substitutes Jamie Edge and Cheldon Valere also tested Summers.
What was the late twist in the match?
With two minutes remaining, Ash Glynn capitalised on a defensive error to pull one back for Town, capping a resilient display. Despite the late goal, Marine held on for the win, leaving manager Bobby Wilkinson encouraged by his side’s organisation and creativity. Town’s youngsters, missing key players like Louis Millard and Lucas Griffiths-Brown, still showed technical quality and character.
Swindon Town’s next fixture is an away match against Grimsby on 27 February 2027, with the team currently 16th in the table.
